[“Ask Five” is a series where I periodically conduct a quick 5-question Q&A with experts in home decorating, crafting and DIY.]
Angelo’s goal of helping people redefine their lives through design without spending a fortune has been realized through his angelo:HOME collection. His philosophy is, “Everyone can have style (and for less)!” Personally, I’d love to purchase every single item in his collection, and while that may not be possible, the good thing is that it’s all affordable. Angelo:HOME can be found at such retailers as Amazon; Bed Bath & Beyond; Costco; furniturecrate.com; Hayneedle; Kittle’s; Overstock.com; QVC; and Wayfair.
For more information about Angelo, his blog, and his amazing collection, check out angeloHOME.com.
Q&A
What are a few money-saving tips for someone who is decorating on a budget?
I’m not original with this one, but paint! It really is the biggest bang you will get for your buck. It will not only change the look of your room, but it will change the look of the way your furniture looks in the room. Also, shop your own home. By that I mean that you should look for things (accessories, furniture, rugs, etc) that may be in one room that would look better in another. Swap things out, check the attic/garage/basement for forgotten treasures. I’m also a big fan of flea markets, thrift stores and yard sales–sometimes, a good old can of spray paint can bring anything to life.
For someone with no design experience, what’s the best starting point when decorating a room?
Move what you have. If you’re decorating a room that already has most of the furniture you will be using in it, move it around. Play with the arrangement. Try something that you think will look awful. The reason for that is that the more you see your room in different scenarios, the more you will begin to understand what feels right. What’s working and what’s not. Plus, it’s free! If you are starting from scratch, think about the big picture. How do you want the room to feel and how will you really want to use it and design around that.
What is your advice for accessorizing without making a room feel “cluttered”?
Unless you are already a master at understanding how to mix scale, patterns, colors and styles and not make a room look like a fun house–stick with a simple color palette. First have your big picture colors down (walls, large scale furniture, etc.) THEN, start looking for a color (that you like) that is in, let’s say, your rug that is the least represented color and bring that color out. Put it in a grouping of vases on a shelf, accent pillows on the sofa, part of the design in the drapes, add it with art. You don’t have to make that color the same hue, you can vary it so it becomes more layered and more interesting.
When designing furniture for your angelo:HOME line, what are some of your major sources of inspiration?
I know it sounds geeky to say, but it’s my customer. Really. I listen to what they say when I meet them, or when I’m doing a makeover, or when they write me. I want the angelo:HOME line to really be about truly functional, beautiful pieces that everyone can afford. THEN, I have to love it. If I don’t love it—I’m not doing it. Design is not an exact science, it’s a feeling. We are touched by design in hundreds of ways everyday and don’t even realize it. It effects our mood, the way we feel, and the way we interact in the world. For me, it has to be simple, beautiful and accessible. It should be for all of us!
When designing a room, on what type of items do you recommend the bulk of the budget be spent?
The items you are going to spend the most time with, OR use the most. That doesn’t mean you have to spend a ton of money on those items, it just means that maybe you make those a priority and find the pieces that are the biggest bang for your buck. You and your room can have it all, but it may not be all at once. Great rooms don’t happen overnight — they evolve. Just like people.
Thank you to Angelo Surmelis for contributing to DIY On the Cheap! Be sure to check out angelohome.com for more info on Angelo and his furniture collection.
Linking up here: